SRINAGAR: More than 99,000 unorganised workers have been enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme across all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting a continued expansion of social security coverage in the informal sector.
The progress was reviewed at a meeting held in Srinagar under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, which examined implementation status, district-wise performance, and ongoing measures to strengthen outreach through awareness and registration drives aimed at increasing enrolment among eligible workers.
During the review, the Chief Secretary directed the Labour Department to intensify efforts to ensure full coverage of eligible unorganised workers under the scheme so that they may avail the intended social security benefits. He also called for weekly district-wise progress reports to monitor enrolment trends and incremental progress.
Atal Dulloo stated that PM-SYM, along with schemes such as PM Kisan Maandhan and the National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-Employed Persons, plays an important role in providing old-age financial security to workers in the unorganised sector.
Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Shailendra Kumar observed that Jammu and Kashmir has considerable potential to further expand such initiatives due to the large proportion of the workforce engaged in informal employment, stressing the need for sustained awareness to improve coverage of eligible beneficiaries.
Labour Commissioner Charandeep Singh informed the meeting that PM-SYM, launched in 2019 by the Government of India, provides assured monthly pension support after retirement to unorganised sector workers, including street vendors, construction workers, domestic workers, agricultural labourers, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, hotel workers and other categories earning up to ₹15,000 per month.
He stated that 99,722 workers have been enrolled under the scheme across Jammu and Kashmir, with Srinagar district recording 10,312 beneficiaries, followed by Poonch with 9,251 and Pulwama with 7,180.
The meeting was further informed that 23,119 fresh registrations were achieved during a special enrolment drive conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in January 2026, resulting in nearly 30 per cent growth in enrolments within a short period.
It was also noted that 637 special registration camps were organised across the Union Territory in collaboration with Urban Local Bodies, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Common Service Centres to enhance outreach and facilitate enrolment.
On scheme benefits, it was highlighted that PM-SYM guarantees a minimum monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after the age of 60 years, with equal contributions from both the subscriber and the Central Government, while in the event of the subscriber’s death, the spouse receives 50 per cent of the pension as family benefit.
The review also reflected near-equal gender participation, with male beneficiaries accounting for 50.16 per cent and female beneficiaries 49.84 per cent, while the 26–35 years age group emerged as the largest category of subscribers, indicating strong participation of younger workers in the contributory pension system.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Shailendra Kumar; Commissioner Secretary, Forests; Labour Commissioner, Charandeep Singh; and other senior officials, while Deputy Commissioners participated via video conferencing.
